YSR Congress party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has hitherto been confined to stating road shows as part of his plans to calling on jailed party colleagues, visiting market yards and interacting with people.
In the last 14 months, Jagan has never staged any public protest on any issue, except that he has been raising the issues at the press conferences and social media statements.
The YSRCP organized demonstrations over issues like Increased fees, agricultural problems, rising power bills etc. But Jagan himself has not participated in these protests so far.
Initially, Jagan planned to give the new government a one-year window, but with 14 months now elapsed, he is set to launch full-scale protests highlighting public grievances.
Now, he is said to be preparing to reconnect with the masses, with plans for statewide tours and participation in protests against the current coalition government.
He is contemplating taking part in a big dharna shortly on denial of pensions to disabled persons.
According to party sources, this will be Jagan’s first direct public protest after the 2024 election loss and the formation of the coalition government.
The pension cuts — particularly those affecting disabled beneficiaries — becoming a major issue and Jagan has begun gathering comprehensive information on the matter.
Starting from next month, the government is planning to discontinue pensions for ineligible disabled persons, which the YSRCP plans to oppose aggressively. He plans statewide protests focusing on the pension issue.
“A major dharna, possibly in Kurnool or Rajamahendravaram, with Jagan leading the protest, will be held shortly. A meeting of senior leaders will be held soon to finalize the schedule,” sources said.
Post-Dasara festivities, Jagan is also set to begin district tours across Andhra Pradesh.
The proposed plan includes launch the tours from Srikakulam district and spending two days in each district, conducting constituency-wise meetings with party workers.
Besides, he would conduct parliamentary constituency-level sessions to direct and energize the cadre, provide guidance on organizational responsibilities and strategies to strengthen the party. These district-level tours are expected to continue until December.
Party sources add that Jagan is planning another statewide padayatra (walkathon) before the 2029 elections, aiming to revive the grassroots momentum that helped him in 2019.
For now, the focus is on revitalizing the cadre through meetings and tours, with a formal announcement expected within a day or two.
